better 1 of 4

as in more
to a greater or higher extent he knows property law better than anyone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

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better

2 of 4

noun

better

3 of 4

verb

better

4 of 4

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word better distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of better are ameliorate, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

When might ameliorate be a better fit than better?

The synonyms ameliorate and better are sometimes interchangeable, but ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

When can help be used instead of better?

The words help and better can be used in similar contexts, but help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of better
Adverb
The White House, ahead of the speech, paired police reform with bringing down violence, suggesting that giving police better training tools could lead to less crime nationwide. Zeke Miller and, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023 Buschatzke and others argue that a better and more equitable approach would be to start accounting for evaporation and other water losses from the reservoirs and along the river in the Lower Basin. Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023
Noun
In related news, Emma Foehringer Merchant wrote a fascinating story for Undark about researchers creating a repository of birds and bats killed at solar and wind farms, to better understand why they’re getting killed and how to prevent it. Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023 Last year, the office held listening sessions in Grove Hall, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain to better understand the needs of women and gender-expansive individuals. Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Verb
In the dance of love there are no betters — there is only the pursuit of radical equality. Jimi Calhoun, Austin American-Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024 Conversely, credit card delinquencies declined for sports betters, a trend that showed up a couple years after legalization and surprised Hollenbeck. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 July 2024
Adjective
The decision to allow Qatar to provide funds for Hamas, ostensibly for governing and bettering the lives of civilians, ultimately proved to have disastrous consequences. Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 9 June 2025 For the record, McCormick has bettered her teammate and year-round training partner on occasion. Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for better
Recent Examples of Synonyms for better
Adverb
  • This tells us that a full 10-round battle decided via decision is far more likely than an early knockout.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
  • The characters seem more concerned with personal gain and political one-upmanship than with serving the public good.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Martian clashes over tactics with his superior (Jeffrey Wright), who tussles with his superior (Richard Gere) while their superior, the director of the CIA (Dominic West), periodically beams in from Washington, D.C., to cast doubt over the entire high-risk operation.
    Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
  • Richie ends up attempting to plan a hit on Tony, but after his request is denied by mob superiors, Uncle Junior tips Tony off.
    Skyler Trepel, People.com, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • Do Exclusive Giveaways And Conduct Follow-Up Bake exclusivity into a giveaway and track which loyal customers take advantage.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The underlying numbers, however, show that Guatemala really maximized its opportunity after gaining a numerical advantage.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • That deal could have reached as high as £89m (€100m) were subsequent clauses met; the amounts guaranteed on the sale of Wirtz have already exceeded that figure.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • Annual interest payments now already exceed $1 trillion, and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has called it a red flag.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Built on the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 8GB of RAM as the Quest 3, the 3S boasts high-fidelity hand tracking, full-color passthrough and improved thermal efficiency.
    Anna Tingley, Variety, 1 July 2025
  • The law also updates the definition of infertility to be more inclusive and aims to improve access to fertility care for everyone — including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Protective and special coatings like anti-glare on TV screens and computer monitors can be worn down and damaged.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2025
  • That was why this moment—and this fruit—was so special.
    Tom Downey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The group assembled in Romare Bearden Park shortly after 6 p.m., just barely outnumbering a dozen city police officers stationed in clusters around the area’s edge.
    Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
  • To get started, consider the following first steps: • Deploy in geographically diverse edge and core regions to avoid over-concentration.
    Mark Mahle, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The market could surpass those previous records on Friday or early next week, analysts told CBS MoneyWatch.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 26 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, a 2024 forecast by Research and Markets estimates the digital education sector will surpass $80 billion by 2030, driven by microlearning and online skill monetization.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Better.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/better. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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